Clarkson Tech, ranked second in the last, took full advantage of the breaks last night in beating the first-ranked Crimson varsity hockey team 5-3 before a capacity crowd at Watson Rink.

After a slow start, Coach Len Ceglarski's Golden Knights took control and kept the lead until the final buzzer.

Harvard was at its best in the first period. Dean Alpine opened the scoring at 3:14 when he picked up Chris Norris' rebound and stuffed it behind Clarkson goalie Wayne Gibbons. The Crimson had several more chances to capitalize in the next few minutes, but Gibbons and the Knights' defensive lineup were too strong.

Clarkson could not get a shot on Harvard goalie Bob Bland until the six-minute mark. At 14:16 Roger Purdie made his shot count when he fired into the upper right hand corner from about 20 feet out. The assist on the play went to Arnold Lawlor.

Gene Kinasewich put Harvard in front at 18:05 when he took a perfect pass from Tim Taylor and shot it over Gibbons' right shoulder. Gerry Jorgenson began the play on the left, passing to Taylor who relayed the puck to Kinasewich.

Just when it looked as though the Crimson had sewn up the period, Corbett Adams of Clarkson took a long bouncing shot from the center red line. What looked like a routine save turned into a surprising miss, as the puck hopped over Bland's stick and between his pads for the tying goal.

Loose Defense Hurts

Sloppy passing and poor defensive work by Coach Cooney Weiland's team gave the Gold and Green some important breaks in the second period. Defenseman Barry Wagner scored first at 2:24 with a hard shot into the upper right hand corner.

Harvard could not clear the puck out of their own sone, and Harold Pettersen took advantage of the sloppy play, scoring from a mixup in front of the Crimson net. Brian Wilkinson and Adams earned assists.

Clarkson pressed hard in the third period and Bland had to be brilliant on several occasions to keep the game from turning into a rout.

Adams got his second goal and the final one of the game for the Knights at 4:28. He skated over an open left wing and deftly faked out Bland who was left lying on the ice as the puck slid into the empty cage.

Commenting afterwards on the team's performance, Coach Cooney Weiland said, "They're in better condition after five games' experience."

The junior varsity was quick to take advantage of every opportunity yesterday afternoon when they beat Boston College 14-2.